Concrete spreading machine



March 3, 1936. R. W. BRIGGS CONCRETE SPREADING MACHINE Filed July 20,1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 3, 1936.

R. W. BRIGGS ETE SPBEADING MACHINE CONCR Filed July 20, 1935 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Hl l.l |IllllllllllllI||l||I IIIIINII IllIlIIIlI|ll|lPatented Mar. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism for handling concrete and pertainsparticularly to such mechanism by which the concrete may be spread ordistributed.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide. a machine bymeans of which con- 'crete may be distributed to and spread out over anarea at a uniform thickness without the employment of manual labor forspreading and smoothing, as is done at the present time.

, A further object of the invention is to provide a machine by whichditches or canals may be lined with concrete and in which a novel meansemployedfor effecting the even distribution of the concrete over theentire inner surface of the ditch or canal area which is formed in theearth and which is to be lined.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel mechanismfor distributing and spreading concrete in which the concrete is causedto move over a distributing surface through the combined action ofgravity and jarring or vibrating means whereby its even distribiition iseifected.

. The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding,however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformitywith the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so longas such changes or modifications mark no material departure from thesalient features of'the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a view in top plan of a machine embodying the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the. drawings, wherein like numeralsof reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,the machine embodying the present invention is illustrated in positionover a ditch or canal l, the inner surface of which is being lined witha layer of concrete which is indicated by the numeral 2.

In the operation of the present machine, the borders or the ditch I haveplaced. therealong,

- forms which. facilitate the formation of. the

concrete lining above the surrounding ground surface. At either side ofthe ditch in parallel spaced relation with the forms 3, a track rail 4of any suitable character is disposed, on which the carriage wheels ofthe concrete distributing 5 machine move for the movement of the machinealong and over the ditched area.

The machine embodying the present invention comprises a carriagestructure, which is indicated as a whole by the numeral 5, and whichcomprises two spaced parallel beams 6 connected together at theirforward ends by the two spaced cross beams l and at their rear ends bythe two spaced cross beams 8. Over the front and rear crossv beams aredisposed the front and rear platforms or plates 9 and It respectivelyfor the purpose hereinafter pointed out. The beams 6 at their forwardand rear ends carry on their under sides the bearings H in which axlesl2 are supported and which carry at their outer ends the carriage wheelsi3 which are adapted to travel upon the tracks 4.

At the front end of the machine there is mounted upon the longitudinalcenter of the same and upon the platform 9, a gear box l4 and upon the.25 rear platform upon opposite sides of the longitudinal center of themachine are two gear boxes, each of which is indicated by the numeral[5. Through these forward and rear gear boxes 14 and 15 extend theforward and rear vertical 3O screws 5'! and i8 respectively, the upperends of which are threaded and pass through and have threaded engagementwith the lift wheels I9 and 20 which rest upon the adjacent gear boxes I4 and i5 respectively. The screws I1 and I8 pass downwardly throughtheir respective plates 9 and I0 and terminate at their lower ends asubstantial distance beneath the carriage 5 where they are connectedwith the concrete spreader or screed which is about to be described.

The concrete spreading screed or template is indicated by the numeral 2!and comprises an elongated sheet metal plate of arcuate cross section orof a cross section to conform with the cross sectional design of theditch or canal which is to be lined. At its rear end this templateextends upwardly at its sides to a height or elevation equal to orgreater than the depth of the ditch. Preferably, it extends to the topsof the forms 3 at the sides of the ditch. The side edges of the templateare parallel throughout a portion of the length of the plate from therear end forwardly and they then converge, as indicated by the numerals22, and flow intoa rounded nose edge 23, the apex of which lies on thelongitudinal center of the ditch.

Extending longitudinally of the inner surface of the template are thetwo spaced parallel beams 24 which are secured to the template,terminating at their forward ends adjacent the converging edges of theplate and at their rear ends projecting rearwardly of the plate wherethey are joined by the transverse plate 25. This transverse plate 25 hasa pair of apertures formed therethrough through each of which the lowerend of a screw l8 passes and above and below the plate 25 each platecarries a collar 26. Surrounding each of the screws l8 above and belowthe plate 25 are springs 27 each of which bears at one end against acollar 26 and at the other end against the plate 25, thus resilientlysuspending the template at its rear end on the screws l8 through themedium of the beams 24,

plate 25 and springs 21.

The entire template 2| is covered by a concrete receiving deck, which isindicated generally by the numeral 28, and which is divided or broken upinto four major areas, indicated by the numerals 29, 39 and 3i. Thenumerals 39 indicate two similar lateral areas, while the numerals 29and 3| indicate longitudinally extending central areas. These areas ofthe deck 28 all have 'a general forward slope but certain ones thereofin addition to sloping forwardly, slope laterally. As shown in the topplan view the areas 29 and 3! are divided by a central transverse ridge32 and the rear central area is divided at its sides by the hips 33 fromthe side areas 39, while the forward central area 29 is divided at itssides by the hips 34 from the side or lateral areas 30. The

area 3| has a forward and downward slope from The lateral areas 30 ofthe deck slope downwardly and forwardly and join along their outer edgeswith the converging edges 22 of the template. These areas 39 are broken,however, by the minor hips which extend laterally and rearwardly, asindicated at 35, so that the portion of each area lying forwardly ofthese minor hips has a sharper forward and downward slope than theportions lying rearwardly thereof. Upon the top of the forward part ofthe deck area 29, two spaced parallel reinforcing bars 36 are secured toextend longitudinally of the structure uponopposite sides of thelongitudinal cen ter thereof and between these bars 36 a collar '31. issecured which extends through the deck and through which the lower endof the forward screw IT projects. This screw also carries above andbelow the deck the collars 38 and between each of these collars and thedeck is a coil spring 39 by which a resilient connection is maintainedbetween the screw I1 and the forward end of the concrete spreader andformer unit.

Mounted within the template beneath the deck 28 are one or morevibrators which are indicated generally by the numeral 40. Thesevibrators may be of any suitable design and operated in any suitablemanner to efiect a jarring of the template and deck when concrete isbeing spread and molded to the surface of the ditch over which themachine is working. Since the specific design or construction ofvibrator forms no part of the present invention, a detailed descriptionof the same will not be given.

In the use of the present machine, after the ditch I has been formed inthe earth and the forms 3 and tracks 4 laid, at opposite sides thereof,the machine is placed in position over the ditch with thecarriage-wheels. resting upon the tracks 4 and the position of thetemplate is regulated relative to the surface of the ditch in accordancewith the thickness of concrete liner to be spread therein.

The concrete to be spread is then dumped from the mixer on to the deck28 and as the carriage is moved forwardly on the tracks 4 the vibrators40 are operated and jarring or vibrating effect causes the concrete togravitate over the areas of the deck in the direction of the arrowstoward the front and the sides of the machine. The concrete will thus befed from the front end of the area 29 and from the side edges of theareas 30 of the machine deck and as the machine moves along it will beworked under the template and spread out over the entire surface of theditch. The screed or template thus forms what might be termed a movableform, from the sloping top or deck of which the concrete is caused toflow by the vibrating apparatus smoothly and unlformly to all pointsalong the edge of the template, thereby furnishing a constant anduniform supply of concrete all along the perimeter of the plate. Theforward motion of the machine and the vibration thereof automaticallyforces the concrete upward and against the sloping sides of the earthsection to be lined and the face of the screed or template smooths thesame out to a constant thickness.

Any suitable means may be employed for moving the machine carriage onthe track, therefore no particular means has been illustrated ordescribed and in addition other means may be employed for operating thescrews I1 and I8 for the raising and lowering of the template and deckand, as previously stated, any suitable means may be employed forvibrating the machine in order to effect the constant movement of theconcrete over the deck areas.

While the present invention has been illustrated and described as aconcrete spreading and forming machine, it is to be understood that itis not to be limited to such use, but may be used for any purpose forwhich it is found adaptable.

I claim:---

1. A machine of the character described, com.- .prising a wheeledcarriage, a plurality of standards carried by and depending from thecarriage, means for vertically shifting said standards, a smoother platedisposed beneath and extending longitudinally of the carriage, saidplate having forwardly converging side edge portions and a rounded noseat its forward end connecting said portions, a deck overlying said plateand having its central part raised and extending forwardly and laterallyat a downward inclination and joining the converging edge portions andthe rounded nose of the plate, and means resiliently connecting theplate with the lower ends of said standards for supporting the plate anddeck from the standards.

2. A machine for distributing concrete to and spreading the same overthe surface of a ditchaor 75 til similarly formed area, comprising awheel supported carriage adapted to position over and movelongitudinally of the said area, a plurality of vertically disposedstandards longitudinally adjustably secured to the carriage, anelongated template body disposed beneath the carriage and having anexterior cross sectional contour conforming with the cross section ofsaid area, said template having forwardly converging side edge portionsterminating in a rounded nose, a deck overlying said template and havinga forwardly and downwardly extending central area and forwardly andlaterally sloping side areas, said deck along the outer edges of saidside areas and at the forward end edge of said central area joining theconverging side edges and the rounded forward edge of the template, andmeans resiliently attaching the template and deck structure to the lowerends of said standards.

3. A machine for distributing concrete to and spreading the same overthe surface of a ditch or similarly formed area, comprising a wheelsupported carriage adapted to position over and move longitudinally ofthe said area, a plurality of vertically disposed standardslongitudinally adjustably secured to the carriage, an elongated templatebody disposed beneath the carriage and having an exterior crosssectional contour conforming with the cross section of said area, saidtemplate having forwardly converging side edge portions terminating in arounded nose, a deck overlying said template and having a forwardly anddownwardly extending central area and forwardly and laterally slopingside areas, said deck along the outer edges of said side areas .and atthe forward end edge of said central area joining the converging sideedges and the rounded forward edge of the template, means resilientlyattaching the template and deck structure to the lower ends of saidstandards, and means on the inner surface of said template for impartinga vibratory motion thereto.

4. A plastic material distributer and spreader, comprising an elongatedsmoother, carriage means for said spreader, and a material receiving andspreading deck overlying said smoother and formed to provide a centraltransverse hip between a forwardly and downwardly inclined surface areaand a rearwardly extending surface area and a laterally and downwardlyinclined surface area at each side of said first inclined area, saidfirst and last mentioned areas having bordering edges joined with theedge of said smoother.

5. A plastic material distributer and spreader, comprising an elongatedsmoother, carriage means for said spreader, and a material receiving andspreading deck overlying said smoother and formed to provide a centraltransverse hip between a forwardly and downwardly inclined surface areaand a rearwardly extending surface area, and a laterally and downwardlyinclined surface area at each side of said first inclined area, saidfirst and last mentioned areas having bordering edges joined with theedge of said smoother, and vibrator units mounted beneath said deck.

6. A machine of the character described, comprising a wheeled carriageincluding forwardly and rearwardly disposed transverse platforms, a pairof standards extending downward from said latter platform, a singlestandard extending downwardly from said forward platform, meansassociated with each of said standards for moving the same vertically, aspreader and smoother structure disposed beneath the carriage and thearea lying between said platforms, said smoother being tapered towardone end, means connecting the lower end of the standard which issuspended from the front platform with the tapered end of the smoother,means coupling the lower ends of the other standards with the oppositeend of the smoother, and a deck structure overlying said smoother andhaving a raised central portion with areas sloping forward and laterallydownward toward the forward and lateral edges of the smoother.

7. A machine of the character described, comprising a wheeled carriageincluding forwardly and rearwardly disposed transverse platforms, a pairof standards extending downward from said latter platform, a singlestandard extending downwardly from said forward platform, meansassociated with each of said standards for moving the same vertically, aspreader and smoother structure disposed beneath the carriage and thearea lying between said platforms, said smoother being tapered towardone end, means connecting the lower end of the standard which issuspended from the front platform with the tapered end of the smoother,means coupling the lower ends of the other standards with the taperedend of the smoother, said smoother being of arcuate crosssectionalcontour, and a deck structure overlying the smoother and having aforwardly and downwardly inclined central area which merges at itsforward edge with the tapered edge of the smoother, and laterally anddownwardly inclined side areas which merge at their outer edges with thesaid edges of the smoother.

8. Mechanism for spreading and smoothing concrete in excavations in theearth, comprising a carriage structure, a spreader and smoother platesuspended from said carriage and having .an under surface which istransversely convex throughout the entire length thereof and furtherhaving forwardly converging side portions and a rounded nose at itsforward end connecting said portions, and a deck overlying said plateand having forwardly and downwardly inclined surface areas from whichconcrete may be distributed forwardly over said nose and laterally overthe side edges of the plate,

9. Mechanism for spreading and smoothing concrete in excavated areas inthe earth, comprising a carriage structure, a spreader and smootherplate suspended from said carriage and having a transversely roundedunder surface and forwardly converging side edge portions and a roundednose at its forward end connecting said portions, a deck overlying saidplate and having forwardly and downwardly inclined surface areas fromwhich concrete may be distributed forwardly over said nose and laterallyof the plate, and means for vibrating said plate to effect the movementof the concrete over said deck.

ROBERT W. BRIGGS.

